Printing machine



Dec. 17,` 1935. l. GuRwlcK PRINTING MACHINE Fi 1ed July 5l, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 wev Uzgarwwk,

Dec. 17, 1935A. l. GUwlcK 2,024,354

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Julyl, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i fwer'f. [im Guru/ack,

l. GURwlcK PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5l, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 3l, 1953 fm2/@Ek 72g Guru/Lch,

m 2 1 W 7. u 9 -L0 7 i7 m 5 w .wmwwx 5 7 www? n n Y L Patented Dec. 17,v 1935 UNITED STATES Y 2,024,354v PRINTING MACHINE Irving Gurwick, Harmon,-N. Y., assignor to Shellmar Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware- Application July 31, 1933, Serial No. 682,923 claims. (ci. lol-,152)

The present invention relates to"v the printing art, and has particular reference to an improved printing method and a machine of the intaglio type which have been found of great advantage V in the printing of such materials as transparent cellulose sheeting.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a multi-color intaglio press for printing transparent cellulose sheeting.

An additional object is to provide an intaglio press which is easily operated to produce printing of high quality.

A further object is the provision of an intaglio press which is particularly flexible and easily adjusted. I

A still further object is the provision of an improved method of intaglio printing.

These and other objects will be evident from a consideration of the following illustrative and explanative description, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which y i Fig. 1 is a side view of a press constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the rst printing unit of thepress;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the unit shown in Fig. 2;

Fig.,4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and discloses an end view of an intermediate colorl unit;

Fig. 5 is a top view of th`e unit shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the driving mechanism for the cutting unit of the machine.

As shown in the drawings, the press is formed of a plurality of longitudinally movable units mounted in series upon a suitable base .and having cooperating feed and disposal units. Each unit is complete in itself and operable tof prin a single color.

The base of the printing machine is composed of two longitudinally-extending frames Ill and I I which may be mounted on a common support for stability. In the exterior of frames III and II respectively are mounted longitudinal rack members I2 and I3. As will be observed in Fig. 1, both the base frames I0 and II and the rack bars I2 and I3 which are secured thereto extend substantially the entire length of the printing machine.

At one end of the press is a feed unit having sideframes I4 and I5 respectively mounted on base frames I0 and II. Frame unit I4 is provided with an idler gear I6 which meshes with rack bar I2 on one side and Wi@- SeQQrid gear l sheeting or other web material.

, I1 on its opposite side. Gear I1 is carried on 'a rotatable shaft I8 extending upwardly and being connected with a beveled gear I9. Meshing with the latter gear is a similar beveled gear which is keyed to a shaft'ZI. The shaft 2l 5 extends transversely ofthe printing machine and is journaled in frame units I4 and I5.

Adjacent the opposite end of shaft 2| is a beveled gear 22. which meshes with a second beveled gear 23 mounted on a vertical rotatable lo shaft 24.4 Shaft 424 also has keyed to it a gear 25gwhich meshes with an idlergear 26, the latter being engaged on its bar I3 f VTo one end of shaft 2| is keyed* a hand wheel 21, and it will be seen that by operation of this hand wheel the position of the feedy unit may be changed as desired.` That is, rotation of the hand wheel to the right, for example, will transmit motion through shaft- `2Il and finally to idler gears I1 and 26, causing these idler gears to travel along the rack barsaway from the first printing unit.

Mounted in frame units'Mand I5 are two shafts 28 and 29 which are respectively adapted 25 to carry rolls 30 and 3| of. transparent cellulose Suitable changing mechanism and brakesV 32 are provided on the ends of shafts 28 and 29, `whereby/the shafts lopposite side with. rack may be removed easily for changingfrolls and 3o the tension of the web may be properly controlled. Ordinarily, only one'roll ofthe material will be used for the printing operation, and the other roll will be attached to the end of the web when the roll previously in use is exhausted. Adjacent the upper portion of frames I4 and I5 are mounted transverse steel guide rollers 33, 34, 35 and 36. These rollers are mounted in spaced relation-and in fixed-position in the frame units. Between rollers 33 and 341s a rubber 40 surfaced roller 31 and between rollers 34 and 35i is a similar rubber surfaced roller 38. 'The ends of rollers 31 and .38 are rotatably mounted in end frames 39, which are mounted in suitable slides 4o in the frames I4 and I5. Through the 45 centerl of each of frames 39 is threaded a shaft 4I. These shafts are rotatably mounted in frames I4 land I5 respectively and have beveled f gears 42 on their outer ends. Beveled gears 43, 50 meshing with gears 42, are keyed to a transverse 'shaft' 44 which is suitably journaled in frame structures I4 and I5. A hand wheel 45 is keyed to "one end of shaft 44, and by rotation of this )land wheel, the relative position of the rubber y color unit.

rollers 33, 34 and 35 may be changed as desired.

Between rollers 35 and 36- a third adjustable rubber faced roller 46 is mounted in blocks 41, the latter being positioned in suitable slides 48 in the frame units I4 and '|5. A shaft 49 is threaded in each of the blocks 41,. and beveled gears 50 are keyed to the outer end of these shafts. Similar beveled gears 5I mesh with gears 50 and are keyed to atransverse shaft 52 which is journaled on frame units I4 and I5. A hand wheel 53 is secured to orfe end of shaft 52 and by operation of this wheel the position of the rubber faced roller 46 may be adjusted as desired.

As shown in Fig. 2, the web of cellulose sheeting is passed from roll 39 about guide rolls 54, 55 and 56, and then through the system of steel and rubber rolls described heretofore. More particularly, the web is passed between the rubber faced rolls 31, 38 and 46. By properly adjusting the relative position of the rubberrolls with respect to the steel rolls, by means of hand wheels 45 and 50, the desired web control may be obtained. When the web is taken from roll 3|, the guide rolls 54 and 55 are not used.

From the feed unit the web passes to the first Each of the color units is of substantially the same construction, and the description of one will be sufficient for a complete understanding of all the units.

Upon base frame I0 is mounted a vertical printing frame 51 and a similar frame 58 is positioned on base frame I I. The color units are provided with arrangements for adjusting their longitudinal position on the base frame which are substantial duplicates of the mechanism for adjusting the longitudinal position of the feed unit, and the reference numerals and description of the mechanism for adjusting the position of the feed units may be taken as applicable to the color units. That is, frame 51 is provided with a gear I6 meshing with rack bar I2, a gear I1 meshing with gear |6 and carried on a verticalshaft I8, .and a beveled gear I9 on the top of shaft |8 meshing with a similar gear 20 which is keyed to shaft 2|. On the opposite side .of the machine, frame 58 carries-a gear 26 meshing with rack bar I3 on one side and with gear 25 onthe other side, the latter gear being keyed to vertical shaft 24 which is provided with a beveled gear 23 on its top meshing with a similar gear 22 on shaft 2|. By operation of hand wheel 21 it is possible to regulate the position of the color units as explained heretofore with respect to the feed unit.

Above the position regulating mechanism for the color unit is a cross frame member 59 which joins the side frame units 51 and 58. As will be seen in Fig. 5, the cross frame 59 carries two auxiliary frame units 6,0 and 6| which are slidably mounted so as to be adjustable transverselyt of the printing machine.

Each of these auxiliary frame units carries a bearing in which is mounted the shaft 62 of an intaglio printing cylinder 63. The auxiliary frame member 6| has an opening into which is threaded a shaft 64, the latter being rotatably mounted in the frame structure 59 and provided with a hand Wheel 65. By operation of the hand wheel 65, it is possible to adjust the transverse position of the printing cylinder. In printing a plurality of colors, transverse adjustment of the various printing cylinders is4 important in order to insure proper registration lof prints,

receives tongue 61 of a short shaft 68.

facedfrollers 38 and 39 with respect to the flxed To the end of shaft 62 opposite the hand wheel 65 is secured a split or slotted portion 66 which Shaft 68 enters gear box 69 and has on its end a beveled gear 10 which meshes with a similar gear 1| keyed to vertical shaft 12. Shaft 12 extends downwardly and is connected to a beveled gear 13 which meshes with a similar gear 14 carried on a main drive shaft 15. Gears 13 and 14 are mounted in such a manner as to move along shaft 15 when the longitudinal position of the printing unit is changed. The main drive shaft 15, which may be driven by any suitable means such as a belt and pulley shown at 1 6, is square to permit the beveled gears 14 to move to any desired position. Instead of the belt and pulley drive shown in Fig. 1, I have found it particularly desirable to employ an oil gear drive for the shaft 15. vThe operation of the printing machine is quite simple since the etched printing cylinder is the only element driven directly from the main source of power.

The etched printing cylinder 63 rotates in a bath of a suitable quick-drying ink such as a lacquer ink held in a tank 11 which is slidably mounted on the frame structure 59 so as to be doctor mechanism includes a rigid holder 18- having blocks 'I9 which hold opposite ends of a flexible doctor blade. The doctor blade holder 18 is removably mounted on a support plate 80 by means of hand clamps 8| which may be rotated into clamping position with respect to the doctor blade holder. adjustably positioned on a bar 82 and this bar is rotatably mounted in vertically adjustable journals 83. To provide for vertical adjustment the journals 83 have threaded through them the vertical shafts 84. Theseshafts extend downwardly and have beveled gears 85 on their lower end meshing with similar gears 86 keyed to shaft The support plate 80 is 81. Intermediate the ends of shaft 81 is securedv a bevel gear 88 with which is meshed a similar i journals.y 83 is caused to turn, thereby raising .z-

or lowering the doctor blade.

In addition to this'vertical adjustment, it is possible to rotate the doctor mechanism about shaft 82 in order to obtain access to the color bath and printing cylinder. The vertical adjustment is important from the standpoint of obtaining the proper angle of contact of the doctor blade with the printing cylinder, as in the case of a change in size of the printing cylinder. Also, in some cases it will be desirable to pass the web directly and on a horizontal line from one printing unit to the next adjacent unit rather than as described hereinafter, and for -this reason it is desirable to be. able to lower the ment. For this purpose I have provided frames 92 having mounted therein rotatable shafts 93 which are threaded into stops 94, the latter being held against rotation by engagement with slots 95 in frames 92, and will be observed in Fig. 4. When the proper vertical adjustment of the doctor mechanism is obtained, hand wheels 96 are rotated until stops 94 are brought down into contact with cooperating stops on the journalsA 83. Subsequent lowering. of the doctor mechanism does not necessitate readjustment for vertical position, since it is required merely to raise the doctor mechanism by means of hand Wheel 9| until the journals 83 engage stops 94, thereby again positioning the doctor mechanism.

Positioned above the printing cylinder is an .adjustable impression cylinder unit which may be pivoted out of its normal operating position to allow access to the printing cylinder. This unit includes a side frame 91 pivoted adjacent one side of frame 59 and a similar frame 98 pivoted adjacent. the opposite side of frame 59. Side frames 91 and 98 are each carried on a transverse shaft 99 the ends of which are journaled in opposite sides of the frame 59. Shaft 99 also carries swing arms |90 which are provided with arcuate rack bars IOI. The teeth of these arcuate rack bars mesh with-worms |02' carried on vertical shafts |03 the lower ends of which are provided with beveled gears |04. Gears |04 mesh with beveled-gears |05 keyed 'to the outwardly extending transverse shaft |00. To the end of shaft |05 is keyed a hand wheel |01. By rotating this hand Wheel the impression cylinder unit is caused to rotate about shaft 99, its inoperative position being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the etched printing cylinders to be removed without hindrance.

The impression unit frames 91 and 98 are respectively provided with vertical slide portions |08 and-|09. Slidably mounted in these portions of the frame structures are impression cylinder frames |I and A -rotatable shaft II2 extends between frame units 91 and 98 adjacent their tops. This shaft carries a beveled gear I I3 on one end which mesheswith a similar gear II4 keyed to a vertical shaft ||5. The. lower end of shaft |I is threaded into the' frame structure ||0. Adjacent the opposite end of shaft I I2 is mounted a beveled gear I I0 which meshes with a similar gear I|1 on vertical shaft I8, the lower end of the latter 'being threaded into the frame structure I||. It will be seen that by rotation of hand wheel |I`9, which is keyed to the end of shaft ||2, the frame structures ||0 and III are caused to move at the same time forward or away from the etched printing cylinder. The purpose of this adjustment is to provide means for raising and lowering the rubber surfaced impression roll into and out of contact with the printing cylinder, ,it being understood that the web of cellulose material passes between the impression roll and printing cylinder. The impression roll has its ends journaled in 'swing arm frames |2| and |22! which are pivoted to a shaft |23 extending between frame structures ||0 and III. Immediately in front of the rubber impression roll is a steel guide roll |24 which is also journaled in frame portions' |2| and |22. The cellulose web passes beneath this steel roll before it contacts with the printing cylinder in order that the web may be given a. substantially horizontal plane toward the printing cylinder.

lprecipitation of cellulose hydrate. 1 tion of heat immediately after the printing operaof travel as it contacts the printing cylinder. Preferably, the guide roll |24 is slightly higher than the impression roll, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the web has a slight downward slant This reduces the 5 amount of contact of the web with the printing cylinder and thereby reduces the chances of the web being smeared by the printing cylinder, and permits sharper outlines to be obtained in the printed image. The swing arms I2'I and |22 are 10 pivoted about shaft I 23. The forward ends of the swing arms are supported by bolts |25 extending through bars |26 and being threaded into the shaft upon which roll |24 is mounted, the bars |26 being secured to frames |I0 and 15 III. By turning bolts|25 the forward end of ythe swing arms may be raised or lowered.

Above the rubber impression cylinder `l|20 is mounted a vertically adjustable steel pressure cylinder |21. This cylinder is ,journaled .in 20 blocks |28 and |29 which are slidably mounted in frame structures IIO -and respectively. A shaft |30 extends downwardly through frame structure I0 and is threaded into block |20.

`The end of the steel roll |21 may be raised or 25 lowered by adjustment of pin |3I which extends 'through the 4upper portion of shaft |30. Roll' |21 presses against the rubber impression roll and by properly raising or lowering the roll |21, the pressure of the impression -roll against the 30 printing roll may be suitably adjusted and distributed to obtain proper printing results. It will be understood that a shaft |32, having-pin |33 in its upper end, extends through frame and is threaded 'into block |29 which carries 3;, the opposite end of the impression roll, whereby the pressure of steel roll |21 against the rubber impression roll may be adjusted at both ends.

The shaft |23 carries short swing arms |35 in the opposite ends of which are mounted an elec- 49 trically heated roller |36V of any suitable-design.

It will be noted that the roller |36 is closely 4adjacent the printing cylinder, whereby the cellulose sheeting may be subjected to a drying heat 'immediately after it is printed. This requires thatthe diameter of the heating roll be small, since otherwise it would be impractical to place the heating roll close to the printing cylinder.

The inks ordinarily usedfor printing cellulose i sheeting are generally of the quick-drying type and containa lacquer base. Ordinarily the solvents Will be mixed and their boiling points will vary considerably. AIf the heat is applied at an appreciable interval after the printing operation, 5 the high boiling solventsnwilllave largely evaporated and the boiling point of the solvents to which the heat is applied is correspondingly higher, thereby reducing the drying efliciency. By placing the heating roll close to the printing ci) unit, the heat is applied while the high boiling solvents are still present and consequently the boiling point of the mixture is lower. I have found that this procedure is more effective from the standpoint of drying and that the nish of L5 the dried ink is more satisfactory. Further, unaided evaporation of the vhigh boiling solvents causes the temperature of the printed web to be reduced considerably, and! this results in the formation' of a blush which usualzl indicates e application is also desirable from other standpoints.

"The quick application of heat causes the cellu-f.

lose web to dry before serious trouble can happen shown in Fig. l.

in the case of badly balanced solvents. An additional advantage of this type of heating roller is that the area of contact between the heating roll and the cellulose web is low, and in many cases will theoretically be along a line of contact. The time of heating, therefore, is short and the possibility of damage to the ink or the cellulose material is reduced.

By pivoting the heating roller on swing arms, the roller may be :rotated upwardly out of contact with the cellulose web as soon as the press has stopped. If the hotproll stays in contact with the web, the latter is apt to be burned or otherwise damaged. The heating roll may be constructed by enclosing stationary or rotatable resistance units with a rotatable copper or other metallic sleeve, for example. v

Immediately following the drying roll is a curved bank of idler rolls |31 supported by frame units |38. The frame units |38 are pivotally mounted to the frame structure 58 as shown at |38, whereby the bank of idler rolls |31 may be rotated together. The first roll |31 of the series is close to the drying roll and the remaining rolls of the bank are closely spaced together so-that `the cellulose web makes contact with the rolls along a plurality of closely -spaced lines. By employing an arcuate bank of idlers, contact of the web with the rolls is more positive than in the case of a straight bank of idlers. In practice, I have found it desirable to position the idlers at distances'apart which may be of the order of 5 or 6 inches.

Adjacent the first intermediate color unit and all others thereafter are Amounted upright bars |40 which extend upwardly and carryrollers |4|, the latter being engaged beneath side flanges in the frames |38, thereby supporting the forward end of the bank of idlers. When the units are moved longitudinally with respect to each other the rollers |4| provide means for adjusting the position of the banks of rollers, since the side flanges travel along the rollers.

The intermediate color units, as will be seen in Fig. 1, are provided with additional idler rolls |42 and |43 which receive the cellulose web from idlers |31 and direct it beneath the idler |23 which is positioned adjacent the impression cylinder.

When a web is passed through the series of color units, it is necessary to position the color units so as to obtain the best printing results. For example,- the web often gets out of register. That is, the color and portion of the image printed by one unit vgets out of proper position with respect to the other colors. Various registration means may be provided in a manner known to the art. For instance, a dierential device may be connected through the driving mechanism for the printing cylinders. However, I have found that suitable registration may be obtained by regulation of the bank of idlers |31. Further, the color units may be moved longitudinally to change the web distance between the units, whereby to bring the units back into registration. As the units are moved longitudinally the banks of idlers are preferably rotated about their pivotal points, being retained in engagement with rollers |4|.

In some cases it will be unnecessary to move the last color unit of the series, and for this reason no mechanism for this purpose has been It is obvious that such mechanism could be supplied if desired in the manner described in connection with the othercol'or "-After the last color is printed,` the web is directed to a suitable cutting or sheeting mechanism or, to a rewinder such as shown in Fig. 1. 5 Thisrewinder includes side frames |44 having upright posts or bars |45 which support a' lplurality ofidlers |46 about` which the web is passed. Auxiliary frame members |,41 are pivoted to the frames |44 at |48. Arcuate rack bars |49 are 10 mounted onframes |44 and mesh with worms \|5 0. These worms are carried on short 'shafts |5| having beveled gears on their ends `meshing lith similar gears on shaft |52. By operation ofl and wheel |53 fthe entire frame units- |41 are 15 rotated about pivotal points |60. This rotation permits adjustment of the position of drive roll |54 with respect to idler roll |55, which contacts therewith. Rolls- |54 and |55 exert a pressure upon the cellulose web and provide means for 20 drawing the web through the machine.

'I'he draw roll |54 is driven by means of a shaft |56 which takes power from the worm drive shaft by means of suitable bevel gears. -Drlve shaft |56 has a helical or spiral gear |51 on its 25 upper end which meshes with a similar gear |58 on shaft |60. Shaft |68 also carries a gear |6|l and this gear drives a change gear |62 mounted on an adjustable arm |63. The change gear drives gear |64 which is keyedto the shaft of 30 draw roll |54. 'Ihe diameter of the draw roll |54 is a multiple of the diameter of the printing cylinders, and suitable change gears |62 are .provided so that the peripheral speed of the draw roll is the same as the peripheral speed of the print- 35 ing cylinders. In this manner, the draw roll may be utilized for progressing the web through the machine and the pressure of the printing cylinders upon the web may be made as light as desired.

The printed web passes from the draw rolls |54 and |55 to a rewinding roll |65 carried on shaft |66, the latter being driven in the usual manner, as by a suitable oil gear arrangement.

It will be observed from the foregoing de- ..5 scription that my improved press is highly exible. The various units are adjustable as units and withrespect to the other units of the machine. In operation, the cellulose web is threaded from roll 38 or 3| through the various guide rolls and into the f-lrst color unit. After obtaining the first color, the web passes along a bank of idlers making frequent contact with the web for a sufficient distance to permit the freshly deposited ink to dry or set. Thereafter, 55 the .web passes downwardly around the guide rolls of the second printing unit and between the second color depositing rolls. It is preferred to print a light colored opaque background in the first printing unit and deposit the subsequent (L.) colors in a superimpositio'n with respect to the base color. Suitable blowing devices may be mounted adjacent the banks of idlers to assist in drying the web by means of an air blast.

The web continues through each of the color t5 units in the manner described, and is finally received by the rewinding mechanism. As shown in the drawings, the printing machine is provided with closely spaced rolls for contacting the web along its entire length of travel. The T0 closely spaced banks of idlers make frequent contact with the web between the different color units and the guide rolls which receive the web from the banks of idlers are likewise closely spaced.

I have found that this frequent contact of the web with the idlers along its path of travel permits the web to be directly rewound without necessitating Althe use of 1 special rewinding mechanisms having transverse adjusting means.

Where the web is permitted to travel a substantial distance without support, the web gains a weaving motion which results in relative transverse motion. A rewound web of this type will have irregular edges which make it necessary to again rewind the web in special machinery which have compensating devices designed to straighten the web out. This objection may be remedied by providing for frequent contact of the web with suitable guide ro1ls.

Three color units havebeen shown in Fig. 1, but it will be understood that any suitable number of the units may be employed. For instance, I have found it desirable to use five color units. Also, in many cases it will be of advantage to cut the printed web into sheets rather than rewinding the web into roll form, and for the purpose of cutting the web into sheets the apparatu's shown in my copending application, Serial No. 492,439, filed October 31, 1930, may be utilized.

Various modifications of the structure described herein are possible without departing from the teachings of my invention, and all such variations and modifications are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an intaglio printing machine for printing on transparent cellulose sheeting, means fer feeding a web of said transparent cellulose sheeting, a printing unit receiving said web and including an etched printing cylinder and color bath therefor, a relatively small heating roll positioned adjacent said printing cylinder, and means for moving said heating roll into and out of contact with a web passing through the machine.

2. In a printing machine, a longitudinally extending base frame, a plurality of color units mounted on said base frame, a rack bar on said frame, gears rotatably mounted on said color units and engaging said rack bar, and means for rotating said gears to move said units longitudinally of said frame.

3. In an intaglio printing machine, a. color unit, means for progressing a web through said unit, means for rewinding the printed web, and

closely spaced rolls positioned in contact with said web throughout its travel through the machine for preventing wearing of said web.

4. In an intaglio printing machine, a longitudinally extending frame, a plurality of printing units mounted on said frame, means for moving at least one of said printing units longitudinally of said frame, a curved bank of idler rolls pivotally mounted adjacent said units for engagement with a web passing through said machine, means for adjusting the position of said bank of idlers, and means adjacent the next succeeding color unit for supporting the end of said bank of idlers.

5. In an intaglio printing machine, a printing unit, a bank of idlers pivotally attached adjacent said printing unit for engagement with a web passing through said machine, and means for adjusting the position of said idlers.

6. In an intaglio printing machine, a printing unit, a draw roll for pulling a web through said unit, a second roll adjacent said draw roll, pivotally mounted frame members for said draw roll. driving means for said draw roll, Aand means for rotating said frame members about their pivot to vary the relative positions of said draw roll and said second roll thereby to control the tension on a web engaged between said rolls. 5

7. In an intaglio printing machine, longitudinally extending base frames, rack bars on said frames, a feed unit mounted on said frames, printing units mounted on said frame, a rewinding unit mounted on said frame, gears rotatably mounted on certain of said units meshing with said rack bars, means for rotating said gears to produce longitudinal movement of said units, curved banks of rolls pivotally mounted adjacent said printing units for engagement with a web passing through said machine, means for adjusting the position of said b anks of rolls, and means adjacent the next 'succeeding printing unit for supporting the free end of each of said bank of rolls.

8. In an intaglio printing machine for multicolor printing of cellulose sheeting,` longitudinally extending base frames, rack bars along said frames, a feed unit mounted on said frames,

rotatable gears on said feed unit meshing with said rack bar, means for rotating said gears for adjustingthe longitudinal position of said feed unit on said frames, a plurality of printing units mounted on said frames, means for transverse adjustment of said printing units, heating rolls adjacent said printing units, rotatable gears on certain of said printing units meshing with said rack bars, means for rotating said gears for adjusting the longitudinal position of said printing units, a rewinding roll, and relatively closely spaced idler rolls between said feed unit and .said rewind roll for contacting a web along a plurality of transverse closely spaced lines.

9. A method of printing cellulose sheeting, which comprises maintaining a traveling web of said sheeting, depositing coloring material on said traveling web, winding the colored 'web into roll form, and supporting said traveling web throughout its path of travel along transverse lines suiciently closely spaced to maintain said web in transverse alignment. y

10. In a machine for handling a web of transparent cellulose sheeting, means for supporting a roll of the sheeting, means spaced a substantial distance from the supporting means for drawing a web from said roll, and a plurality of closely spaced transverse idlers between the supporting means and the drawing means, said idlers engaging said web along transverse lines spaced apart a suiiiciently small distance to maintain the web in transverse alignment.

`11. In an intaglio printing machine, a frame structure, a feed unit, a plurality of spaced color units, and adjustable bank of relatively closely spaced idlers between said color units, and means for producing relative longitudinal movement between said units.

12. In an intaglio printing unit, a frame structure having a printing cylinder support positioned for upward removal thereof, a printing cylinder releasably positioned in the support of said frame structure, a color bath positioned beneath said cylinder, an auxiliary frame structure pivotally mounted on said rst named frame structure, an impression cylinder mounted in said auxiliary frame structure and adapted to cooperate with said printing cylinder for the printing ofV a web passed therebetween, means for rotating said auxiliary frame structure sufilciently to allow removal of said printing cylinv 6 der, and additional means for adjusting the relative position of the impression cylinder with respect to the printing cylinder.

13. In an intaglio printing machine, a printing unit including an etched printing cylinder, color bath, and doctor blade mechanism rotatable into and out of contact with said printing cylinder, adjusting means for fixing the position of the doctor blade with respect to the printing cylinder, means for moving the doctor mechanism up-v wardly into printing position and downwardly out of printing position, and stop means for limiting the upward movement of said doctor mechanism.

14. In an intaglio printing machine, means for supportinga roll ofl material to be printed, a draw roll for progressing said material through the machine, a color unit between said supporting means and said draw roll, and additional rolls positioned along the entire 'path of travel of said material between said supporting means and said draw roll, said additional rolls engag ing said material and being sufficiently closely spaced to maintain said material in transverse alignment.

15. In an intaglio printing machine, a support for a roll of material to be printed, a draw roll for progressing said material through said machine, a plurality of consecutive printing units positioned between said support and said draw roll, and additional rolls positioned along the entire path of travel oi' said material between said printing units, said additional rolls engaging said material and being sufciently closely 15 spaced to maintain said material in transverse l alignment between said units.

IRVING GURWICK. 

